Feb/23 - Average length of car loan jumps, says AutoPacificAccording to AutoPacific, the average length of a car loan is currently 66 months, up from 48 months just a few years ago. This is one reason why AutoPacific is forecasting a decline in automotive sales beginning in 2018. "People aren't going to be able to replace their cars as quickly as they have in the past, because they're going to be upside down on those loans for a significantly longer time," says AutoPacific's Ed Kim.

Feb/20 - If Apple wants to transform cars, it should build this instead of copying TeslaApple has been hiring automotive talent from Tesla, Ford, and other car companies. Will they really enter the car business? If Apple decides it can transform autos the way it transformed music, then AutoPacific's Dave Sullivan believes their real target should be hydrogen fuel cells rather than battery-powered electrics. "Thinking long term, I’d be looking at hydrogen fuel cells,” says Sullivan. "Fuel cells are far more efficient. You’re making power onboard the car instead of drawing it from the power grid."

Jan/23 - Why there are no more stick-shift AcurasFor the first time in its 30-year history, Acura doesn't offer a manual gearbox. What, or who, is to blame? The shift away from cars and toward crossovers and SUVs for one. AutoPacific's Dave Sullivan also points to reduced consumer demand, which means costly implementation. "Americans would rather hold their phones and drink kale smoothies instead of shift gears."

Jan/22 - Michelin, Pirelli, Nitto Keep Up With Changing Consumer DemandsAccording to the results of the latest installment of AutoPacific’s annual Replacement Tire Brand Dynamics and Satisfaction Study, Michelin ranks 1st in replacement tire owner satisfaction, followed by Pirelli ranking 2nd. Nitto moved up 3 spots to 3rd place in the rankings this year, while former 3rd ranking Goodyear slipped to 5th.